EP President imposes penalty on Nigel Farage MEP for behaviour which is 'inappropriate, unparliamentary and insulting to the dignity of the house'
The President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, met with Nigel Farage, Co-Chairman of the EFD Group in the European Parliament, earlier today to discuss the latter's behaviour in the plenary of the Parliament on Wednesday 24 February, during the report-back by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, on the outcome of the informal summit meeting held in Brussels on Thursday 11 February.
The Parliament's President explained to Mr Farage that he attaches the highest importance to freedom of speech. Members are completely free to express their views on the policies and institutions of the European Union, but not to insult colleagues or special guests, such as Mr Van Rompuy, on the floor of the chamber. The President stated that such behaviour was inappropriate and disrespectful to the dignity of the Parliament. Some of the comments which Mr Farage had made were offensive to Mr Rompuy personally and to Belgium as a country.
The President underlined that, when exercising freedom of speech in the Parliament, it is essential to respect the dignity of others and of the institution in which they both sit.
The President invited Mr Farage to withdraw his comments and to apologise to Mr Van Rompuy, the Belgian people and his parliamentary colleagues for any offence which such remarks might have caused. Mr Farage made it clear that he was not willing to do so.
The President has now written to Mr Farage expressing disappointment at his behaviour and imposing a penalty of the forfeiture of ten days' entitlement to the daily subsistence allowance for Members.
The President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, said after his meeting with Mr Farage:
"I defend absolutely Mr Farage's right to disagree about the policy or institutions of the Union, but not to personally insult our guests in the European Parliament or the country from which they may come. His behaviour towards Mr Rompuy was inappropriate, unparliamentary and insulting to the dignity of the house.
As a former member of the Polish Solidarity movement, I myself fought for free speech as the absolute cornerstone of a democratic society. But with freedom comes responsibility - in this case, to respect the dignity of others and of our institutions.
I am disappointed by Mr Farage's behaviour, which sits ill with the great parliamentary tradition of his own country. I cannot accept this sort of behaviour in the European Parliament. I invited him to apologise, but he declined to do so. I have therefore - as an expression of the seriousness of the matter - rescinded his right to ten days' daily allowance as a Member".
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Statement on Nigel Farage MEP
Sofia - 03/03/2010The President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, met with Nigel Farage, Co-Chairman of the EFD Group in the European Parliament, earlier today to discuss the latter's behaviour in the plenary of the Parliament on Wednesday 24 February, during the report-back by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, on the outcome of the informal summit meeting held in Brussels on Thursday 11 February.